• Loading stock data...
Saturday, May 3, 2025

How the Hawks Ended Up With Two College GMs on an NBA Roster

Trae Young and Terance Mann are recruiting for their college programs while gearing up for the NBA postseason.

Trae Young
Brad Penner-Imagn Images

On April 1, Terance Mann approached his Hawks teammate Trae Young at practice with a few questions.

He wasn’t looking to discuss pick-and-roll coverage or free throw shooting. Instead, he wanted to talk to Young about his new job as assistant GM of men’s basketball at Oklahoma. The role had become official the day before. 

Mann attended Florida State and led the program to the 2018 Elite Eight. New Seminoles coach Luke Loucks saw Young’s new job and offered the same position to Mann, so Mann had some questions for Young. After hearing Young walk him through the gig, Mann was sold. 

“I’ll probably do it,” Mann told Young after picking his brain. 

Mann accepted the job, which gives the Hawks a unique distinction. The team leads the league with two active players also doubling as their college’s assistant GM. The Warriors have one in Stephen Curry, who got the same gig at Davidson a few weeks before Young did. And Clippers star James Harden has heavily donated to Arizona State’s collective but has no official title or role with the program. 

Hawks coach Quin Snyder has no issue with two of his rotation players working second jobs during the season. Snyder spent 11 years of his coaching career in the college ranks as an assistant at Duke and then the head coach at Missouri.

“I think it reflects those guys’ connection to their school and their experience there, and the fact that there’s a vehicle for them to be impactful and keep that connection,” Snyder told Front Office Sports. “It’s admirable in my mind. … In the case of our guys, I don’t think it detracts from anything that they’re doing in their NBA jobs. Obviously, those are still the priority.”

Mann said he’s not employed by the university—which means he’s not getting paid—but is actively doing the job while playing for the Hawks. He said he’s always been close with Loucks, a fellow former Seminole, who left his job as a Kings assistant to coach their alma mater. Mann said he’s checked the transfer portal daily and coaches have sent him film to ask for his thoughts on players they’re recruiting. He’s even in the coaches’ group text. 

When Young was named assistant GM, the announcement came with a $1 million donation to OU’s men’s basketball program, which will likely go toward paying players. Young has made $146 million in his career, while Mann has made just $28 million. But Mann said he plans to give a financial donation to FSU for its NIL (name, image, and likeness) efforts now that he’s working for the program. 

Harden and other NBA players who spoke to FOS about their NIL donations specifically said they don’t tell the coaches at their college how to do their jobs, and they trust them with their money. But Mann’s opinion—especially on player personnel—is now being actively sought.

“I’m just trying to see how they can help us win,” Mann said of his scouting efforts. “Luke kind of wants to play a pro-style game similar to the NBA. So I feel like I got a good feel on where guys can fit those roles.” 

Young said he is an employee of Oklahoma but didn’t specify whether he was getting paid. Oklahoma did not immediately comment on the details of Young’s employment. But like Mann, he’s already started the job, just 10 days after being named to the position. He’s already spoken to recruits and claims one committed to Oklahoma thanks to his efforts. (Young declined to name the player, citing NCAA rules.) 

“I’m going to be involved as much as I can,” Young told FOS after a blowout win against the Nets. “When [Sooners coach] Porter [Moser] needs me, I’m going to be right there.”

Mann said his friends in the league are “confused” by the new role. For the record, he says it entails “recruiting, help keeping the alumni close, and help with decision-making on the money aspect of things, the financial piece.” 

The Hawks have a third player who could join Mann and Young in sharpshooter Georges Niang, who previously told FOS he had given $100,000 to Iowa State’s collective since the dawn of legal NIL payments in 2021. Niang has called NIL donations “burnt money” due to how uncertain the return on investment can be, but he likes Young and Mann’s setup with their schools.

“I think that’s cool, as long as it’s beneficial for Iowa State,” Niang said. “Obviously there’s some logistics that have to get ironed out before you get titles like that. I think it’s a work in progress, but at the end of the day I’d be open to it.”

Mann can now relate to Niang’s point about “burnt money.” The job has introduced him to the Wild West of the transfer portal, which has him sounding like a grizzled old coach after seeing the asking prices for players.

“It’s very tough,” Mann said. “You have kids that average six points a game, two rebounds, and they’re asking for $500,000, $600,000. And they’re coming from a mid-major. That’s the asking price so you can’t really say anything, but … you’re not that good.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Mint juelps

Inside the 120,000-Cup Mint Julep Frenzy of Kentucky Derby Weekend

The official cocktail at Churchill Downs costs $22—or $5,000.
Dec 17, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Floyd Mayweather Jr. during the 1st quarter of the Emirates NBA Cup championship game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks at T-Mobile Arena.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Hits Business Insider With $100M Defamation Suit

The suit seeks at least $100 million and a public retraction of the reporting.
Jun 23, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) passes the ball against Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith (1) during the second half of a basketball game at Wintrust Arena.

WNBA Takes Its Preseason College Series to a New Level

Multiple preseason WNBA games will be broadcast nationally.
Aug 9, 2024; Paris Saint-Denis, France; Fred Kerley (USA) and Kyree King (USA) react after the men’s 4x100m relay during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade de France.

Fred Kerley Arrested Again at Grand Slam Track Hotel

He hit his ex-girlfriend, another track athlete, the police report says.

Featured Today

Apr 25, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium
April 30, 2025

The Pirates Are Struggling, But Paul Skenes Fever Is Still Spreading

The 22-year-old pitcher is (finally) giving Pittsburgh something to cheer for.
April 29, 2025

How DJ Adam Amin Mixes Baseball With Bangers

Amin is one of Fox’s top NFL and MLB voices.
Jun 21, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck holds the Larry O’Brien trophy prior to the Boston Celtics championship parade.
April 27, 2025

The Celtics Succession Plan Remains Murky

The transfer of power to a private-equity group is still unresolved.
April 28, 2025

Quinn Ewers Bet on NFL Over NIL—and Left Millions on the Table

The Dolphins picked Ewers in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.
Shaquille O'Neal
April 28, 2025

Shaq Taking GM Role at Sacramento State

The news comes amid the school’s push for FBS status.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Portfolio Players is our bi-weekly spotlight on the athletes and investors reshaping the business of sports. This week, venture capitalist Kai Cunningham unpacks why athletes land top deals and how the usual investing rules don’t always apply.
Mar 28, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Lamont Butler (1) dribbles the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first half during a Midwest Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
April 25, 2025

College Sports Has Become a Billion-Dollar Business. Kentucky Is Embracing It

Kentucky said its LLC would operate similarly to two hospitals run by the university.
Ole Miss
April 24, 2025

Coach Yo: Women’s College Hoops Are ‘Pay for Play’

Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin built a top transfer class this offseason.
Jan 21, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark speaks during the CFP National Championship Host Committee handoff press conference at The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Savannah Ballroom.
April 24, 2025

CFP Meetings End With No Major Changes to 12-Team Playoff—for Now

For now, the complicated seeding process will remain in place.
April 24, 2025

The House Settlement Is in Jeopardy. Here’s What It Will Take to..

The parties will try to salvage the settlement over the next two weeks.